Below is the list of books and videos I read and reviewed for my self-designed class on immersing myself into bike culture. Take a gander at the summaries, and pick them up if they spark your curiosity!
The island of bicycle dancers, by Jiro Adachi
Yukira, a Japanese-Korean immigrant, comes to New York to work in her Uncle’s corner store and to learn English. Throughout her journey in New York, she is surrounded by many unlikely teachers who not only give her insights to the many “dialects” of the english language, but also give wonderful insights into her own development and transformation. Of the many characters in the story, Yukira becomes obsessively fascinated with bicycle messengers. One in particular, nicknamed “Bone” becomes an object for her desires. She also makes a friend of “Whitey”, another messenger, who shows her many sites of New York by bicycle. Whitey teaches Yukira the unconventional lingo and slang of bike messengers, while she learns formal english from her cousin, Suzie.Jiro Adachi twists lessons of life, love, death, sex, and transformation through interesting characters: an overbearing aunt, an uncle and his artist lover, a rebellious cousin who aspires to be an english teacher, bicycle messengers who steal parts for Bone, their ringmaster, and the unkept yet lovable scamp of bicycle messenger named Whitey. In the end, Yukira learns of the broad diversity of the english language, and finds her own path to fulfillment and transformation.
Bicycling Street Smarts by John Allen
Through the use of diagrams which illustrate real world scenarios of situations bicyclists encounter, John Allen packs a concise and complete bicycle road safety manual into a small 46-page booklet. Contrary to the widely held belief that bicyclists should stay as far to the right as possible on streets, the manual advocates riding farther away from parked cars, many times toward the middle of a street, for both safety and visibility. In addition to road safety, Allen gives an overview of pre-trip safety checks, as well as advice on dealing with angry motorists and other difficult situations. The manual is also available on-line at http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/
Critical mass bicycling’s defiant celebration by Chris Carlsson
Through a collection of essays and articles, the phenomenon of the Critical Mass bicycle ride is examined. This “happy coincidence” of hundreds - sometimes thousands - of bicycle riders, happens on the last Friday of every month, in over 200 cities around the world. The essays are a combination of first person accounts, historical documentary, and criticisms of the critical mass ride. Of particular interest is Hank Chapot’s article, “The Great Bicycle Protest of 1896,” whereupon thousands of bicyclists filled the streets of San Francisco to demand adequate and safe pavement for bicycles at the turn of the 20th century. Ironically, 100 years later, bicyclists are taking to the streets en masse to celebrate petroleum free transportation, and to demonstrate what our roadways could look like if the bicycle were again dominant. Throughout all of the essays and articles, it is made evident that Critical Mass can mean many things to many people. It is inherently designed with no leaders, no spokespeople, and no rules. The last article provides resources and helpful suggestions on how to start a critical mass ride in one’s own community.
The immortal class bike messengers and the cult of human power by Travis Hugh Culley
Travis Culley weaves through the cityscape of Chicago at blazing speeds, all the while delivering packages as a bicycle messenger. His first-person perspective of his daily encounters is filled with the colorful language of bike messengers. As well, his own blunt, often times raw and unfettered interpretation of “invisible” yet liberated people - longing for access to public spaces, provides a look into how automobile ownership can bring about class distinctions. Culley recounts his first critical mass ride in the streets of Chicago, which focuses his philosophies on the need for safe, public space - apart from an overly consumerist, oil-burning, and polluting automobile-addicted culture. The book reads like an “urban cowboy” adventure novel, twisted with thought provoking images of a life more free - atop a bicycle.
Still We Ride - Dir. Andrew Lynn. (DVD)
This DVD documentary describes the tension between critical mass participants and the New York City police department. Mass arrests at a critical mass ride during the 2004 Republican National Convention and the months following are caught on video. Additional footage shows police using force during arrests, the sawing of bike locks to confiscate bicycles during critical mass (as ‘abandoned property’), and the use (and abuse) of helicopter surveillance. Individuals recount their arrests and their experience in the court system. One of the main participants of the documentary notes that “the punishment is the process” she must go through to clear herself of charges through eight months of court appearances. The film also analyzes the arrests and critical mass from a legal perspective, while claiming that the New York police department is tasked at “Controlling the streets - at any cost.” Additional analysis and commentary accompanies the 37-minute documentary, including an interview with Chris Carlsson, author of the book, Critical Mass - Bicycling’s Defiant Celebration.
Who Killed the Electric Car? - Dir. Chris Paine (DVD)
In the year 2000, California passed a law that 10% of cars sold in the state must comply to a “zero emissions” standard. Hence, the Saturn EV1 electric car graced the highways for a time. Despite a waiting list for these poorly marketed vehicles, General Motors did little to increase their production. Following the rescinding of the zero emissions California law, General Motors recalled it’s entire fleet of leased EV1 vehicles. In addition, the film follows EV1 owners and concerned citizens uncovering the corralling - and ultimately crushing - of these vehicles by General Motors. Chris Pain systematically lines up “suspects” as to “Who killed the electric car?” and analyzes the evidence, providing a guilty verdict to many organizations and institutions.